Robbie Neilson has delivered a positive injury update on defender Kye Rowles.
The Hearts star suffered a broken foot against St Johnstone with his hopes of featuring for Australia at the World Cup looking slim after the unfortunate injury. However, the 24-year-old has had a pin inserted and should be back training within five weeks after the successful surgery.
The news will comes as a huge boost to the Jambos gaffer, Socceroos boss Graham Arnold and Rowles himself with the stopper playing a starring role in their play-off route to the finals. He had been an ever-present in the defence since his summer arrival making five appearances in the Premiership and two in Europa League qualifying before the injury.
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Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Neilson said: “Kye got the op on Tuesday and all being well it should be five weeks from there to him being back in full training.
“That’s good news for him because it gives him a chance of making the World Cup squad.
“The chance he might not make it was always going to be a worry for him when it happened. But things are hopefully looking good.
“He has had a pin put in the foot, which should help.
"He could have left it and waited and in theory he could have been back a week or two earlier.
“But the problem you have with that is the injury might go again, so we felt it would be better to have the pin put in it so that’s it done and dusted.
“And he should be back in six or seven weeks.”
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